September 2020 7 - babies are arriving!

[sianyflewog]

Just making this ready xx

@ShiningStarz I'm breastfeeding but have to pump 20ml after every feed to "top up" her feeds as she's loosing weight.

Sometimes I can express 50-60ml using both breasts and then other times I struggle to get 30ml between the two. I'm using an electric pump one side, and whilst breastfeeding or expressing I use a suction cup pump to catch the milk dripping from the other side at the same time.

100ml sounds a lot but I've got no idea as mine is breastfeeding and the additional bit is just for topping up so I don't know how much you should be getting each time when exclusively pumping.

I did notice if I can pump in the night that's when I get the most out, in the early hours of the morning, but it's very knackering doing that! xx

Ooh thanks @ShiningStarz I can't wait to be rid of this swelling!

Hi everyone, hope everyone is well.
Im so tired today. Eva was born on Thursday and we had our first bad night last night. She wouldn't sleep in her next 2 me. She'd fall asleep fine in my bed or arms but every time I'd transfer her, she'd wake up like 10 minutes after. Im already thinking of co sleeping. She slept fine before and today during the day. Maybe she's got her nights and days mixed up. Im also finding the breastfeeding painful. She seems to be latching on fine though, I'm trying to get as deep a latch as I can. The midwife said it could be my skin just being more sensitive. Did anyone struggle at the beginning? Im thinking of getting a lactation consultant or something to come over to check the latch. I'm using lansinoh cream and ordered cooling soothing pads. Is it normal to feel pain the first few days ?

Totally normal @Lilice

My milk is in now so my pain is like a stabbing/sharp pain in the nipple as he latches on. It goes away whilst he's feeding and I know it will stop happening after a week or two once everything has settled down.

Leave your boobs out to air dry as much as you can. Use breast milk or lansinoh to help.

I'm also co-sleeping at the moment but I won't be long term. Once he's taking longer feeds and sleeping for longer stretches then I'll use the crib but he's been awake/asleep and on/off the boob every 10 minutes since Wednesday it's not a fight I'm willing to have at this point!

DP realised I hadn't slept for 60 hours at one point so stayed awake and watched me sleep with baby for the 3 hours we managed! My side of the bed looks like I've built a den/nest there's so many cushions to prop me up!

@Lilice my little one doesn't like his next to me so we have put the pram bassinet in it and he settles in that. I think the next to me is too roomy and he doesn't feel secure. It's worked well so far, getting 3-4 hours between feeds

@ShiningStarz - I’m sort of similar and could also be pumping more but it’s so hard when baby just wants to be held Sometimes and there’s no one else to do it! Make sure you’re not missing the 3am (ish) pump. I get 110-120 for the first two pumps as they fill quicker in the early hours and more like 70-80 after that. Used to be lots more when I was first pumping but there’s been a few times I’ve let it slide for various reasons and nearly dried up but then bring it back up- which is doable, definitely don’t worry if it drops for a few days just up the frequency and it’ll come back! I was stuck at small volumes for a little while when Wren first came home but they’re slowly improving now.
As someone else recommended, kellymom has some great tips but definitely the late night/early hours pump and not going longer than three hours in the day seem to be the key things. Also make sure you’re eating and drinking enough - good luck!

@LatteLover12 im getting the pain throughout the whole feed though, it is worse when she first latches on..is that normal too? They'll check my latch at the day 5 appointment, if the pain persists ill look into getting a lactation consultant.

@Roxy8203 oohh those 3-4 hours stretches sound very appealing 🤤 unfortunately our pram bassinet collapses when taken off the frame, didn't realise that when we bought it.
She sleeps fine during the day, anywhere we put her. I have to wake her up to make sure she feeds. Now im thinking she's got her days and nights mixed up. I guess we'll find out tonight 😱

Congrats@Lilice 💕
We held our daughter taking turns to be awake for first 9 nights! Then fri night I had her in my bed and last night the next to me, but I was literally awake every time she stirred, I rubbed her back and rocked her and she settled again fine each time! Hoping for few hours straight sleep sometime soon lol

@Lilice When I first started breastfeeding, the pain was awful for the first 5 days, my nipples hurt all the time even when I wasn't breastfeeding. It got to the point I was stressed every time it was time to breastfeed again as I knew it would hurt again. 😔 I had my latch checked multiple time as I was still in hospital and it was fine, just super painful while my nipples got used to breastfeeding. A thick layer of Lansinoh after every feed helped. Then a mix of leaving my nipples to air and also a small square of cling film on my areola after the lansinoh which helped the lansinoh do its magic.

Hi @Sara7455 great tips there. Thank you. I didn't realise about 3am pimp was impo!! Must checkout kellymom again. Glad to hear Wren is doing well xx 🤗

@HugeAgeGap I stupidly thought the expressing would be so much faster!! Watching the drips of milk is like watching paint dry!!!

@ShiningStarz doesn’t have to be 3am exactly but somewhere in that 2-4 space after lo has woken you anyway. I was doing 12 and 6 as they say during the night and not longer than 6 hours so I thought that counted but volumes have been better doing 10, 3 and then 7/8 ish.
Glad the sleep is getting better for you!

@Lilice Congratulations! 💕

@LatteLover12
60 hours of no sleep 😮😮 Glad you managed to get some sleep in the end!

Thanks @Sara7455 xx

Iv been a bit teary today!! Anyone else?!
I haven't shared a bed with my DP in 12 nights. I miss night and morning cuddles!!! Hoping we'll be back in same bed before Christmas lol

Thank you @kersh33 it's so reassuring to read you, I guess I should be patient and the pain will ease off soon.
@Emmy2020b thank you! When is your induction? I bet you cant wait
@ShiningStarz im not teary yet as only on day 3 but I know the feeling. Having a baby changes everything, it really is a new chapter.

Sorry to ask this, as it's probably been already mentioned, but could someone recommend a breastpump?

@Lilice my latch looked great but that pain that normally last 20 seconds to start was lasting the whole feed. After a few days my nipples were ruined. I was on tears with the pain one night. Anyway a midwife finally looked at him at day five properly and said it was tongue tie. So we got it snipped and it's helped but he's not keen on the boob nor prefers the bottle 🙄

I've got the Piaek double pump off Amazon. It's £30 and just as good as medela. I've got a pumping bra so it frees up my hands to do other things.

@ShiningStarz agree with @Sara7455 night time/morning is when I get the most. I pump at 9, 1/2 (depending when he wakes) 6 and then 9/10. I get loads over those times. Got 200 ml this morning at 10! But afternoon I'll get more around 130. It's tough to start but the more you pump the more milk you get. Get a pumping bra and then you've got hands for baby.

@Lilice It’s this Thursday!

Updated the Roll call. Hope it’s correct! By my maths girls are winning by 1 now!

Born
@Sara7455 15/6/20 💙
@Bubble29 1/8/20 💖💙
@Lorna198 24/8/20 💙
@Laura1348 26/8/20 💙
@Piper1878 28/8/29 💙
@annie1994 1/9/29 💙
@ChipsAreLife 4/9/20 💙
@HugeAgeGap 4/9/20 💖
@Smilymami 5/9/20 💙
@UrsulaSings 5/9/20 💙
@Sunshinexx95 7/9/20 💖
@MostlyAmbridgeandcoffee 8/9/20 💖
@ShiningStarz 10/9/20 💖
@Roxy8203 11/9/20 💙
@glasha87 11/9/20 💖
@emma278 13/9/20 💖
@liquoricecravings 14/9/20 💖
@sianyflewog 15/9/20 💖
@LatteLover12 16/9/20 💙
@CookieBlue 16/9/20 💖
@CNovittBolden 16/9/20 💙
@Miltonj 17/9/20 💖
@Chanel05 17/9/20 💖
@Lilice 18/9/20 💖

Still cooking?!

@Lazydaisydaydream 2/9/20 💛
@Cox2020 6/9/20 💛
@crazyexornot 10/9/20 💖
@Sunsage 12/9/20
@WillowT 19/9/20 💛
@OrDis 20/9/20 💖
@Emmy2020 23/9/20 💖
@MooseWL 25/9/20 💙
@pangolin84 26/9/20 💙
@Margo34 26/9/20 💛
@NeuroMama 26/9/20 💙
@LooseyGoosey 28/9/20 💙

@Lilice I invested in the Medela. It was expensive but I hope to continue using it well into weaning and up to if not over the year mark for porridge and nighttime feed.

Spectra 1 pump has been mentioned on here, Sara used it in the hospital and is cheaper than
Medela. You could look into hiring them too.

Great info @ChipsAreLife thanks

Thanks @Lorna198 go girls💕

Oh gosh... So much has happened. Congrats to all the ladies who have just had babies. So many c-sections too, I wish u all a quick recovery. To all the mums still expecting, it won't be too long now... Hang in there.
Really enjoying my life as a mama, I feel so fulfilled. Normally I do not joke with my sleep, DH had been doing the night shift with baby Neil
since we came home from the hospital.. bless him, but he is now so knackered as he still has to work in the day, he just couldn't tonight. Neil has got nights and days mixed up, so awake for most of the night. I barely got any sleep tonight as he just won't let me, but I'd do anything for him. Eyes closing as I'm typing this even..

Thank you for the recommendations @ChipsAreLife and @ShiningStarz

@Lorna198 thank you so much for updating the roll! We're all nearly there now 🥳 i still can't believe I had a baby girl, I was so sure it was going to be a boy. She was born on 17/09 but we can change that next time we update the roll

@Smilymami my first baby had her nights and days mixed up but luckily it didn't last too long. I think this little lady is also a little bit mixed up as she sleeps so soundly during the day and will sleep anywhere, whereas it's a different story at night. The good thing is that it won't last and she'll sort herself out soon. Hope you get some good rest today x

@ChipsAreLife she was checked for tongue tie and she's fine..I've been changing positions, and find the football latch more comfortable.

My milk is finally coming in today and I'm engorged. How long does engorgement last? If I can bear it, can I just leave my boobs engorged or so I need to do something about it?